Justifying Antonio Brown to the Buccaneers

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The biggest shock of the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneer season is probably the signing of controversial wide receiver Antonio Brown. Suspended for half the season, he becomes eligible to play in the return match against the New Orleans Saints in week 9. The former Pro Bowler couldn’t come to the team at a better time.

 

At 5-2, the Bucs are starting to look like they’re meeting the hype for the first time since the days of Jon Gruden,  who they just crushed his Las Vegas Raiders 45-20 Sunday night. Make no mistake, the Bucs can take on the world even if it includes the baggage of someone with pending litigation such as Brown. Brady’s familiar with reclamation projects revitalizing the careers of Randy Moss and Chad Johnson in New England.

How Antonio Brown Allows A Healthy Buccaneer Receiver Rotation

Even if their stars don’t average 100 receiving yards a game, Brown gives them far more. Star receiver Mike Evans has become a shell of his former self due to his nagging injuries. His problems are not likely going away anytime soon. Chris Godwin’s had to deal with the league’s concussion protocol. Scotty Miller’s despite doing his best impression of Wes Welker and Julian Edelman has hip issues. Luckily for Brady, guys like Tyler Johnson and Rob Gronkowski stepped up huge. The latter despite battling injuries, looks like picking up where he left off as Patriots in 2018.

How 2020 Might Be Antonio Brown’s Final Chance in NFL

With an entire offseason and half to “mature”, Brown understands this could be his final shot in the NFL. Fortunately, he has two people willing to give him his third chance in Brady and his former coach in Pittsburgh-now Bucs head coach Bruce Arians giving him his latest shot. An incentive-laden deal makes Brown a low-risk, high reward, and a fresh body to become the game-breaker he once was. Even if he’s lost a step, things open up even further for an already loaded receiving corps. Not to mention how much defenses will likely defend more against the pass and leave themselves more vulnerable to the run allowing running backs Ronald Jones II and Leonard Fournette better opportunities.

At 11,263 receiving yards and 75 touchdowns through 10 years, Brown became at least the biggest value signing in franchise history not only through his productivity but also as a distraction. The extra time opposing defenses spend to game plan around him is time, they’ll overthink on defense.

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